Staphylococcal enterotoxin superantigens

Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1991 Dec;198(3):765-71. doi: 10.3181/00379727-198-43321a.

Abstract

Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) are a family of structurally related proteins that are produced by Staphylococcus aureus. They play a role in the pathogenesis of food poisoning and are the most potent activators of T lymphocytes known. The receptors for SE on antigen-presenting cells are major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. Recent studies have shown that a complex of SE and major histocompatibility complex class II molecules is required for binding to the variable region of the T cell antigen receptor beta-chain. SE mitogenic activity is dependent on induction of interleukin 2, which may be intimately involved in the mechanism of SE toxicity. The minor lymphocyte-stimulating "endogenous" self-superantigen has recently been shown to be a retroviral gene product, so that this too is apparently a microbial superantigen. An understanding of the mechanism of action of these microbial superantigens has implications for normal and pathological immune functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / toxicity
  • Enterotoxins / chemistry
  • Enterotoxins / physiology*
  • Enterotoxins / toxicity
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / physiology
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens / physiology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / physiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Enterotoxins
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell